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HomeMy WebLinkAbout042823 KPTZ Listener Questions for Monday_ May 1_2023 BOCC Update________________________________ ALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them. ________________________________ County Commissioners, Dr Allison Berry, and Willie Bence, Please see the KPTZ listener questions listed below for Monday, May 1, 2023, BOCC update. Thank you, Lynn Sorensen KPTZ Virus Watch Team Questions for Dr Allison Berry: 1. I have one question: can they guesstimate what the chances are I will contract COVID if I go into bars/churches, etc unmasked (Jefferson County?) I realize they may not be able to make that guess, as most people don't report it when they have a positive test. (Bummer) 2. Is the new Arcturus mutation of the coronavirus detected reliably by currently-available rapid tests? 3. If I'm traveling out-of-state and test positive for COVID, can I call or zoom my doctor back home to request a prescription for Paxlovid? If not, why not? (imagining a scenario where I have to make a run for the state line or catch the first flight to Washington before picking up the phone to call my Doc to request Paxlovid) 4. I have two questions regarding wastewater surveillance. I am following the info on this on the Jefferson County Public Health website and shared the link on Nextdoor recently. That led to an interesting discussion and sharing of information regarding wastewater surveillance in general and in various States. We are wondering if WA State is testing for COVID variants in the wastewater? And, also, I recall that some time ago you said that WA State might be adding other viruses to the wastewater surveillance besides COVID, such as polio virus, and we are wondering what the status is on that or other viruses. Also, FYI one of the Nextdoor neighbors, quite sincerely I believe, asked “How is the virus in waste water associated with transmission when it is an airborne virus?” and other Nextdoor neighbors explained “the high level in the wastewater suggests that a lot of people have COVID. The more people that have COVID, the more people can spread COVID.” I am mentioning that Nextdoor exchange, since probably there are other people in the community who do not understand how the wastewater surveillance works, so maybe there could be more news stories about this, assuming that will be a major way to track the risk of transmission in our community. 5. We understand that the CDC has authorized or recommended another covid booster. We are 82 and 76 years old respectively, in relatively good health, and all boosted up previously. We are bravely planning a trip out of the country in late July. Is there a best time to get our new booster shots to give us maximum protection for the trip? Thank you very much for your guidance in this brave new world. Following your guidance has been an essential reason why we have not gotten Covid so far. You are our hero. Question for Willie Bence: 1. With the new recommendation for those 65 years and older receive an additional Omicron booster vaccination, is DEM and JCPH considering any mass vaccination clinics for this group?